SOC105 Classical sociological theories

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2015
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 6 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
PhDr. Roman Vido, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Terezie Lokšová, Ph.D. (assistant)
Mgr. Adam Staveník (assistant)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Ladislav Rabušic, CSc.
Department of Sociology – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Ing. Soňa Enenkelová
Supplier department: Department of Sociology – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Tue 9:45–11:15 P31 Posluchárna A. I. Bláhy
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 19 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
The course introduces students to major classical sociological theories. Students review the main streams of sociological thought in 19th and in the beginning of 20th century, focusing on the work and thoughts of Max Weber, Emile Durkheim, Karl Marx and Georg Simmel. The classics of sociology will be compared with respect to their definition of social sciences, their views on modern society, their understanding of history, their conceptions of capitalism, and their ideas on social change. Important objectives of the course are to identify the conceptual core of the discipline and to critically evaluate the relevance of the classical theories to contemporary societies in the beginning of 21st century. After successful graduation of the course, students are also able to identify and formulate the most important elements of the theoretical conceptions, to compare the discussed interpretations of modernity, to find their commonalities and differences and understand basic methodological resources of the discipline of sociology. Course materials include both the original texts and the secondary undergraduate literature, used to examine the concepts, methods, and explanation in classical sociological thought.
Syllabus
  • 1. Classical sociology and modern society
  • 2. Predecessors of sociological theory
  • 3. Alexis de Tocqueville: Democratic revolution
  • 4. Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels: Bourgeois revolution
  • 5. Quest for the sociological method: A. Comte and H. Spencer
  • 6. Emile Durkheim and the sociological method
  • 7. Emile Durkheim and the division of labour in society
  • 8. Emile Durkheim and the tranformations of collective representations
  • 9. May Weber and value-free science
  • 10. Max Weber and rationalization as a historical process
  • 11. Max Weber and economic ethics of world religions
  • 12. Georg Simmel and the sociology of forms
  • 13. Georg Simmel and the conflict in modern culture
Literature
  • DURKHEIM, Émile. Sociologie a sociální vědy (Přít.) : Sociologie a filosofie ; Sociologie a sociální vědy. info
  • MARTUCCELLI, Danilo. Sociologie modernity : itinerář 20. století. Translated by Pavla Doležalová - Jana Spoustová. 1. vyd. Brno: Centrum pro studium demokracie a kultury, 2008, 494 s. ISBN 9788073251451. info
  • HARRINGTON, Austin. Moderní sociální teorie : základní témata a myšlenkové proudy. Translated by Hana Antonínová. Vyd. 1. Praha: Portál, 2006, 495 s. ISBN 8073670933. info
  • KELLER, Jan. Dějiny klasické sociologie. Vydání první. Praha: Sociologické nakladatelství, 2004, 529 stran. ISBN 8086429342. info
  • CUIN, Charles-Henry and François GRESLE. Dějiny sociologie. Translated by Jindřich Veselý. Praha: Slon, Sociologické nakladatelství, 2004, 263 stran. ISBN 8086429334. info
  • TOCQUEVILLE, Alexis de. Demokracie v Americe. Translated by Vladimír Jochmann. Vyd. 2., v nakladatelství A. Praha: Academia, 2000, 624 s. ISBN 8020008292. info
  • WEBER, Max. Metodologie, sociologie a politika. Translated by Miloš Havelka. 1. vyd. Praha: OIKOYMENH, 1998, 354 s. ISBN 80-86005-48-8. info
  • SIMMEL, Georg. Peníze v moderní kultuře a jiné eseje. Praha: Sociologické nakladatelství, 1997, 206 s. ISBN 80-85850-50-8. info
  • MARX, Karl. Odcizení a emancipace člověka. 1. vyd. Praha: Mladá fronta, 1967, 381 s. URL info
Teaching methods
Lectures, reading (self-study)
Assessment methods
Students must pass two written online tests and a final written exam. The content of the tests and the exam is based on the compulsory reading and presentations from lectures. The tests cannot be repeated. More information about the evaluation of the course is available in the course syllabus.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 1999, Spring 2001, Spring 2002, Spring 2003, Autumn 2003, Autumn 2004, Autumn 2005, Autumn 2006, Autumn 2007, Autumn 2008, Autumn 2009, Autumn 2010, Autumn 2011, Autumn 2012, Autumn 2013, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2016, Autumn 2017, Autumn 2018.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2015, recent)
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